You will all agree with me that it has been one heck of a crazy month so far. And even though the month is winding up, things don’t exactly seem to be rosy yet. Honestly, it feels like we are stuck on a never-ending merry-go-round as a nation!
Every second spent on social media increases the likelihood of being hit with depressing and painful news. And having to deal with rehashing them over and over again when an image, tweet, or video triggers a particularly painful memory. Whether we agree or not, this can put a strain on our mental health.
For a significant number of people, sleepless nights, irritability and bouts of anger, constant worry, and sometimes, difficulty in concentration has become a reality. This clearly shows that stress levels are high.
Despite this, most people cannot seem to find the will to unplug from it all because of the very real and very valid dilemma of having to choose between keeping in touch with the reality of situations and logging off for one’s peace of mind.
How then do you cope with mental stress?
I have struggled with the onslaught of negative news because of the need to be able to write pieces that resonate with social trends or shed light on the issues plaguing us as a nation. And I have discovered some of the following to be effective at doing the trick for me.
Search for positive distractions.
I do this sometimes when things become a bit too much. My usual go-to activities include calls to friends with great vibes, binge-watch a comedy movie or series, writing, listening to music, among others. The important point is to seek distractions that make you feel better so that you can protect your mental health.
Talk to someone.
It may surprise you to know that you aren’t alone in the feelings you experience if you can open up and confide in someone you can trust. Express the suppressed feelings you have with the person so that you both can work through them. I have realized that sometimes, all that is needed is an empathic person with listening ears for the feel-good emotion to rush in.
Have a time-out.
Have a dedicated time away from social media or spaces that can overwhelm you. It could be some hours in the day or night where you unplug from it all and focus solely on your happiness. It does not have to be so long that you are back with dealing with the dilemma mentioned earlier. Try to experiment to get a time range that will hit the sweet spot. I call this your “me-time” away from everyone else.
Of course, this list is limited to a few of the techniques I have put into practice and seen work for me. You can and should read up to learn other ways that will prove fruitful in dealing with mental stress.
Finally, understand that things will not always go the way you plan it to go, especially situations that are beyond your control. Be intentional about your emotional and mental wellbeing because it is up to you to take control of your life.
What works for you? Kindly share in the comment section. To comment on this, kindly input “admin” as the username and password if a prompt requests for this. This shows for first-time comments only.
Love,
Diane.
